Family History: Part 3

Growing Up: The Teenage Years (High School)

What activities did you participate in?
When I was in middle school I played softball. I played for all four years and I sucked. I could catch a ball just fine, I could also hit a ball just fine. During practice. When it came time to play for real I got stage fright. Which is weird because I wouldn't consider myself a really shy person. But maybe at that time. I also didn't really have many friends on the team. I mean we were all friendly, but I wasn't friends with them outside of the team, so maybe that affected it. I am pretty sure my team hated when it was my turn to bat because they knew I would either walk or strike out. They cheered when I got hit. HAHA. Whatever. So I sucked at softball.

I danced a lot too. I started tap dancing as soon as I could. I think I was three and continued until age like 14 or something? I wish I would have continued doing it. There are a couple reasons why I stopped. One. Was my main best friends didn't dance and I didn't really feel like I fit in with the girls that I did dance with, and the other was money. Dance costs a lot of money especially to go far in dance. Even through school it is a lot of money. I also got a job right when I was sixteen. Looking back though I wish I would have tried different dance studios when I got older to see if I fit in at another place. My dance studio had a lot of cliques. I also wish that I would have continued doing it despite the money. I think that my parents would have supported me if it was something that I really wanted to do. I think that having a job when you are young is important, but I also think that doing what you love while you can is important.

How did you learn to drive? What cars did you drive?
Mostly my dad taught me. The first time I drove a car was in when we were visitng my Grandparents in Rangely, CO. We were on part of a dirt road after going on a family drive and my dad just asked if I wanted to drive. I did pretty good. Except for at the stop sign I got confused betweent he break and gas pedal and screetched forward. HAHA. Oops. My mom taught me too, they just took turns. I kind of feel like driving is self explanitory and doesn't take a lot of "teaching." I never learned how to drive a stick shift very well. My best friend Jerrica had a really old car and she taught me how, but since I didn't need to know how to do it I forgot.

I drove my mom's green van and my dad's truck for awhile. I mean those were the vehicles I practiced on. So I turned 16 in August and got a job in October. My job was in Provo (at JCPenney) and my parents didn't really want to drive that far all the time so they got me a car. So awesome. I really felt lucky. The deal was that I still had to keep my grades up because I needed to qualify for the "good student" discount and they would let me drive it as my own. It is a 92' Geo Prizm in red. We still have it. Just recently in fact we hit the 200,000 mile mark. Mostly Anthony drives it because it is a little finicky and sometimes doesn't want to start. Other than that it has been an awesome car. I have had to replace the windshiel so many times I have lost count. Once on my way to work my car stopped working on the freeway, something happened with the timing belt. I never have been into a serious accident. I did rear end a girl once on the way to school, but it was totally her fault and she admitted it and that was that. Oh and for like first couple months I kept getting backed into. Once was in the McDonalds parking lot. Anthony was with me and he yelled at the girl while I stayed in the car. The other time was in the Del Taco drive thru. Some idiot lady back right up into me.

Who were your friends?
I think I pretty much answered this in the previous post. For the most part I hung out with Jerrica, Jackie and Shayla in the first part of highschool and Josh and Trevor (as well as Shayla and Anthony)during the last part of highschool. I would say that I am the type of person who has a lot of accquaintences and a few really good friends rather than a person who just has a lot of friends. I have always been like that. When I am friends with someone I am friends with them forever. I am extremely loyal and have a hard time when people don't return the favor. I am also a needy friend, and I know that. I'm working on it.

Did you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
I have talked about it before but for the most part it was Anthony. Although we didn't consider ourselves dating at the time we basically were. I met him late in my sophomore year of high school and hung out all the time. He left on his mission in March of my junior year of high school. While he was gone I dated a little, but mostly I just hung out. I tried really hard to enjoy what I had left of high school. He came back while I was in college.

What did you like/dislike about school?
I really enjoyed school (still do). I was pretty good at it, I didn't have trouble getting good grades. I was not one of those who just had to have those straight A's, but I did rather well. I really enjoyed history, english, psychology and social dance. The reason I liked those classes was either because of the subject and the teacher was awesome or because of social reasons. Josh, Trevor and I had social dance together and it was so awesome. We had so much fun toghether. I hated Math, and there were also a few people I disliked. The people were more of a problem when I was younger. When I got older I cared less about what other people thought and just had fun.

First Paid Job?
I started babysitting when I was 12. I babysat almost every weekend up until the age of 16 and I had to get a real job. HAHA. My parents basically told me that I needed to get a job to pay for my cell phone. So I did. I applied one day, interviewed and got the job the next. I worked at JCPenney when I was 16 til just recently. I worked everywhere. Window Coverings, Home Dept. Receptionist, and finally the Children's Dept. Supervisor.